Indicating system



Aug. 22,1950 s. s. KONIGSBERG INDICATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed se tl 4, 1944 INVENTOR. SIDNEY S. KONIGSBERG Bya z 0 a g- 1950 s. s. KONIGSBERG ,519,668

INDICATING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 4, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u u 5 FREQUENCY 9| 15 if FREQUENCY O FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

SIDNEY s. KONIGSBERG Patented Aug. 22, 1950 .SUNITED' STATES rATENT OFFICE INDICATING SYSTEM Sidney S. Konigsberg, San Francisco, Calif.

Application September 4, 1944, Serial No. 552,710

1 My invention relates to indicating systems and more particularly to an electronic system for indicating a change in condition where such change in condition may be caused to manifest itself as a change in capacity or the like. While the system hasmany and varied applications, for purposes of disclosure a preferred form of the system will be described as adapted for the indication of liquid level or liquid volume as desired.

Among the objects of my invention are:

' (1)To provide a novel and improved system I for indicating a change in capacity;

(2) To provide a novel and improved system for indicating a change in capacity occurring at a distance from the system apparatus;

(3) To provide a novel and improved capacity indicating system of exceedingly flexible design and application;

(4) To provide a novel and improved capacity indicating system which readily lends itself to standardization;

(5) To provide a novel and improved system capable of indicating with a high degree of accuracy which increases as the indications approach a zero condition;

. (6) To provide a novel and improved system of great stability, for indicating a change in capacity;

(7) To, provide a novel and improved capacity indicating system embodying operational and accuracy checks; 7

(8) To provide a novel and improved system capable of indicating a change in level or volume of liquid in a container or tank, whether such container or tank be disposed-in proximity to the indicating apparatus or at a substantial distance therefrom;

(9) To provide a novel and improved system for indicating a change in capacity, which system adaptable'ior indicating a change in capacity ei- 3 Claims. (Cl. 177--351) ther on a logarithmic scale or on a linear scale, or variations thereof; V

(12) To provide a novel and improved system for indicating a change in level or volume of liquid in a container or tank, which system is adapted to be embodied in light-weight apparatus for use as a gasoline gauge on aircraft;

(13) To provide a novel and improved system for indicating a change in level or volume of liquid in a container or tank, which system is inherently safe in its application as a gasoline gauge on aircraft;

(14) To provide a novel and improved liquid level measuring system for aircraft whose accuracy is unimpaired by changes in attitude of the aircraft.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of my novel and improved system as adapted to the indication of a change in level or volume of liquid in a tank;

Figure 2 is a graph illustrating the preferred adjustment of the circuit of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar graph depicting the underlying principle of operation of the circuit of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a View of a meter dial illustrating certain tell-tale features embodied in the circuit of Figure 1.

In general, my system utilizes a pair of resonant circuits, one of which includes the variable capacity to which the system is made responsive. This variable capacity is itself made responsive to such change in condition which it is desired to indicate on a suitable meter or other indicating means. The resonant circuits are initially ad justed to give a substantially balanced output in response to am impressed voltage of predetermined fixed amplitude and frequency, whereby any subsequent change in the variable capacity, produces an unbalance in the output of the two resonant circuits. The difierential frequency so created becomes a measure of the extent of change in such variable capacity though it is the differential output of the tuned circuits which is the actual measure of such change, and this can be indicated "on a suitable meter. The system I33b9 i many Icaturesand refinements, all of which will be described in detail in connection with the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the drawings to which reference will now be made.

As previously stated, my system embodies a pair of resonant circuits I and 3, one of which comprises a coil 5 shunted by a fixed condenser I and a trimmer condenser 9 in parallel, while the other resonant circuit includes a coil I I effectively shunted by a suitable condenser I2 and capacity network I3.

This capacity network includes a pair of parallel connected condensers I5 and I1, one of which is preferably variable, such parallel connected condensers being connected in ,series with the capacitance of a concentric cable I9 of fixed capacity, preferably shunted by a fixed condenser 2i and connecting with a variable capacity 23, the value of which under varying conditions is to be indicated on a suitable indicating means such as a meter 25.

Such variable capacity 23 may take the form of a probe including a pair of spaced electrodes 24, 26 adapted for insertion or mounting in a tank, wherein the liquid 28 will provide the dielectric whose level will change with change in volume of the liquid in the tank; or where the liquid, if electrically conductive, :ma constitute a plate of a condenser or may be employed to :alter'the dielectric of a condenser.

-Each 0f the resonant circuits is connected across similar resistors 21, 2.9, respectively, through one-half 0f a "double diode rectifier 32, with each resistor 'shunted "by ;a by-pass condenser :35,.respec'tively. The by-pass condenser J35 associated with the -tsecond "resonant circuit 3 completes the shunt connection of the capacity network vlat across the coil "I"! of that resonant circuit.

1'Ihewvoltage developed across reach'resistor vi'l'I and 29 is directl dependent upon the voltage developed in each' associated resonant circuit from a' source 3.1 of alternating currentivoltage coupled thereto, and'thistin turn isr'a function of both the magnitude of the impressed voltage and the resonant frequency of such resonant circuit with relationship'to thefrequency of the in] pressed voltage.

"With :the variable capacity 23 in a condition representing a starting point, "for example, with or .one resonant circuit may be tuned to a frequency slightly above *thattof 'the'voltage source while the other will -=be tuned tosa :frequen'cy slightly below the 'frequency'of the voltage source by a corresponding amount.

The latter mode 'of adjustment has "been illustratedrin Figure 2. The curve 539 below the'frequency axis represents the frequenc response curve :of one -:of :the resonant circuits, 'in this i-I" represents the corresponding "frequency resnonse curve of the "otheriresonant circuit, in this case, theiresonant circuit 13 which includes the 'rariable' capacity oraprobe 23. :The vertical line 1 .5 i which intersects bot'hwcurves, represents "the :trequency of the voltage impressed .uponthe resnnantcircuits from :thesource 31'! and thepoints i? and $9 of intersection, represent, respectively,

. the magnitude ;or :amplitude ef 12116 -vo1tage lduced in each of the resonant circuits I and 3, respectively.

When adjusted so that the resonant frequency of circuit 3 is at a frequency below the impressed voltage frequency by an amount exactly equal to the amount by which the frequency of circuit I is above the impressed voltage frequency, the induced voltages will balance out across the resistors 2? and 29. Any change in tuning of the resonant circuit 3, however, as by the variable capacity 23, will have the effect of shifting the frequency response curve of such resonant circuit with respect to the frequency of the voltage source 3? and, consequently, alter the output from such resonant circuit 'across ;its resistor 29. This is illustrated in Figure 3 wherein the curve 4! has been displaced from its original position, and the point 39 of intersection by the line 45 represents the magnitude of voltage induced into the resonant circuit 3 under such conditions. Thus the output of one resonant circuit will no longer balance the output of the other, and a measurable voltage will appear across the resistors I21 and 29, the value of which will be proportional to the frequency differential of the two resonant circuits.

The initial adjustment-of the resonant circuits to either side of the frequency of the voltage source is preferred, in that it provides for operation along the straight line portion of the resonance frequency curve of the resonant circuit which includes the variable capacity-to be measured,.and accordingly no compensating .factors are required to obtain a linear relationship between the frequency differential ,of thetworeso- .nantcircuits I and 3 andthe voltage appearing across the resistors 21 and 2'9.

Accuracy and dependability of the system requires that the voltage source '31 shall produce an output voltage which is fixed both in frequency and amplitude. Accordingly and with thispurposein mind, I provide a voltage source which includes an oscillator 39, preferably of the crystal controlled type employing a zero temperature .coeflicient crystal. The output of such oscillator is fed to the resonant circuits i and 3 through asaturating amplifier 4.4, to the tank' circuit 43 of which, the resonant circuits I and 3 ar coupled.

The particular type of crystal controlled oscillator relied on, is not critical, but for purposes "of illustration, I have depicted a conventional type oscillatorhaving a tuned plate-circuit 45 with the crystal it in the grid or input' circuit. The amplifier may be designeda'round a tube v rhlc'h embodies a diode limiter 4'9. This might then be connected across the crystal and when soeonne cted will function to stabilize the crystal voltage. Thus th output of the-oscillator would become similarly stabilized, whereby a voltage of substantially uniform peak value upon the input circuit of the amplifier could be assured.

The amplifier is self-biasing, by the inclusi'on in the input circuit, of a bias resistor 5-I shunted by a-condenser 53, this combination functioning resonantrcircuitsflwill be assured of. a fixed frequency andamplitude, and which will be relatively unaffected by minor changes in line voltage. 21..

-Pla te. voltage for both the oscillator 39 and the amplifier 4.! is developed across a potentiometer .or;a pair ofrseries connected resistors 55 and 5'! by: any conventional method, as by rectifying and filtering; the voltage from an alternating current source59, ,or ,by connection to a direct current generator, or by applying batteries directly across such resistors. A voltage regulator tube 6| across these resistors provides for stabilizing such volt- ,age and'thereby serves to preclude wide variations. in the applied plate and screen voltage which might conceivably have a disturbing effect on the amplitude-f the amplifier output voltage. 'I'he'voltage developed across the output resistors 21 and 29 of the resonant circuits is preferably applied across the indicating meter through-a variable voltage dropping resistor 53 which-permits of adjusting the maximum readling 'p'osition of the needle 64 on the meter. Where necessary, 'a fixed voltage dropping resistor 65 may be included in'series with the variable resistor.

"Rather than connect the output voltage of the resonant circuits exclusively across the meter, I

prefer to introduce a direct current biasing voltage in series with the output voltage of the reso- -nant circuits. Such voltage may be derived from across the-power supply output resistor which is preferablyof the variable type to provide for accurate adjustment of the meter needle to its desired biased position. This voltage will cause a zero indication on the meter to occur at some intermediate position of the needle; that is when .the two resonant circuits are adjusted to give a desired zero reading. When so biased, the meter, in additionv to indicating on a suitable scale, changes in the variable capacity 23 to be measured, will also then be adapted to inform an operator in the event of failure of the power supply.

-.This is made possible by the fact that upon the occasion of such failure, the meter needle will swing: to the power-off position of the needle -which would'be below the zero indication on the meter. Thus the zero reading on the scale and the .power-ofi position of the needle are distinguishable.

resonant circuits l and 3 sufficiently to bring the meter needle to the zero indicating position.

When so adjusted, any failure occurring in the system which would preclude the development 'of a voltage across the resonant circuit output re- .sistors 21 and 29, will manifest itself in a drop in .*position of the meter needle from a normal scale :readingto the position 68 of the needle as determined by the direct current biasing voltage applied to the meter.

-' :The degree of unbalance, however, might be so slight that the resonant circuits I and 3 could i still be-considered as being in substantial frequency balance, in their initially adjusted condition with respect to the voltage source 31, and when the'expression "substantial balance or an equivalent. expression is employed in connection therewith in the claims, it is to be so interpreted.

These tell-tale features are of considerable im '='pi rtance as where the system is installed in aircraft for indicating liquid level or volume of gas in a gas tank, for were the meter to be connected directly across the output resistors of the resonant circuits, a zero reading of the meter would not distinguish between an empty tank or a failure in the circuit, and a pilot would have no way of differentiating to determine the true meaning of the zero indication on the meter.

On the other hand, with the meter connected in circuit with a biasing voltage and with the resonant circuits slightly unbalanced so as to bring the meter needle to the zero position as previously described, and illustrated in Figure 4, the zero reading on the meter can only mean an empty tank; and upon failure of the circuit, whether in the power supply or in the remaining portion, an operator will be informed as to which portion of the circuit the failure has occurred.

A quick overall test of the system up to the cable may be had by substituting a condenser for the cable and probe, the value of the condenser to be equal to the combined value of the cable and probe in its empty tank condition. A switch 61 preferably of the push-button type may be relied on to accomplish such substitution.

An added tell-tale feature is the condenser 2| across the concentric cable. Its value is such that upon accidental disconnection or break in the external circuit, an off-scale reading on the meter at the high end of the scale will result.

An important feature of the system resides in the fact that the cable l9 constitutes an element of one of the resonant circuits and, therefore,

no necessity exists for balancing out the capacity of the cable, as essential in prior attempts in systems requiring a cable.

Different'installations will, of course, require concentric cables of different lengths, and, in

order to facilitate the utilization of cables of different lengths, without upsetting the design constants of the rest of the system, I contemplate the provision of a variable condenser 69 which in practice willbe connected across a length of ,cable emerging from the system, and from this condenser will be connected the additional length of cable necessary for a particular installation. The efiective capacity of the cable may then be adjusted by means of this condenser to a predetermined value necessary to give the desired resonant frequency to the resonant circuit of which it forms a part. Thus the system itself up to this point may be more or less standardized ior any one of a large range of installations. For

aircraft use, this is of particular significance, in

that the length of cable necessary in such installations will vary considerably depending on the wingsprea'dof the plane.

-Another feature of my invention which is of substantial importance in connection with the -measurement of "gasoline in gas tanks of moving .vehicles and particularly in aircraft, is the incorporation of the parallel connected condensers l5 'and I! in the tuned circuit 3 which includes the variable'capacity 0r probe 23. These condensers enable onet'o alterthe relationship'between the variation in capacity of the probe23 and the movement of the meter needle 64. In one extreme setting of these condensers, the meter needle may be caused to move as a linear function of the variation in the capacity of the probe,

whereas in the other extreme adjustment of these condensers, this relationship may be changed from the linear function to a type of logarithmic function, and for intermediate adjustments of tliesecondensers, the relationshipwvill represent an intermediate -relationship.

I When adjusted for measurement unv the :logarit-hniic basis; as indicated in Eigure T4 ,the "lower or zero enfl of the"meterr scale'willihave Widely spaced indications and these willzgradually crowd up toward the 'end" of ithe scale 'w'hichiindicates a fullgas'tank; "Inasmuch'tas'the rpilots concern over his ruel-supply increases "as Tthe supply-diminishes, -the desirabilityithat :th'e'meter read with greater cl'arlty'fami zexactness in the direction of =an emptytank; be'comesrmore orxless obvious.

In this 'oonnectionialso, it is ofainterest -to note thatfthe system inherently registers increasing insensitivity ito' und'esired line voltage or- 'other =voltage ilevelshifts, xas the-resonant circuits approachza zbalance, trepresentative :of an empty :tanktcondition; 'This is expl'ainable, with' reference *to Figures "2 "and 3, by the fact: that any mange in 'the drivevoltage; :willealter "the-height o'f' :each of the resonant curves. The-change would be greatest atithe. peak and. graduallysdi- :niinish down -thes1opes as'illustrated by the dotted curves-' zll -and '13. withi-theecurves wideresistorfiB, thus enablingindependent adjustment of the resonant circuits I, 3 and theresistor 63, the former for zeroscale reading and the latter for :maXimum scale reading.

.Other lusesof the system may make a linear scale on the meter'desirable and, as pointed out, this can be arranged through an adjustment :of

the condensers I5, I1.

By making other adjustments in the circuit, various additional types'of meter response char- "a'cteristies can be Worked out to satisfy other conditions.

Up to'this point, nothing 'hasbeen said regardingth'e sharpness of tuning-f the'resonant cir- "cuitsd --a'hdfiS. The system willfunction regardless of the degree or sharpness to which these circuits are tuned,'--but-I have 'found certain very definite advantages to exist in des'igning these cir'cuitSas loWQ circditsfthat is to have reason- :a-bly broad tuning. This-not only simplifies the "designsand manufacture of the resonant circuit elements including the cab'le and probe, but also eliminates the necessity for critical adjustments in setting up the systemifonoperation, and otherwise stabilizes the -operation'ofrthe entire'system.

rPa-r tial :open :circuit up to 40 ohms in series withthe,cable-lhas negligible eiiect onithemeter ureadingsandzpartial short circuit of the cable as lo-wras 2500 ohms, also :has negligible eifecton'the smieter, thus demonstrating the stable "character -of the system, yet leaving the system very sen- .sitivetothe changing condition which "it is de- .signed to measure.

above "described system isiinherently safe .in its application to situations such as'the measurement of level or volume iof gas in-i-a gas tank, .as-it is impossible for a'spark to occur in the -probe circuit; itornot-only is the voltage'across thezprobe.elementsso'small as to be incapable of producing aspark under normal existing condigtionsbut any=tendenoy:;for;a shortto occunwill B detune rthe' resonant .pircuit fistill'fiiurther away from thef'frequen'ey :oi the ivoltage thereby "diminish the'rprobe -voltage fto a walue approaching zero voltage.

*From "thezab'ove' description of "a rpreferred. embodiment:ofimyfinventionpitwill be apparent that "the "same "fulfills all the objects o! my inventi'on as previously set ciorth, andlithat the system is-exceeding1y flexible in the imatter df design"andzadjustmentstoiadapt'i'iti170 many and varied applications.

:Results along the :lines irfdicatedun Ttheforegoing description may be realized through '9. number @ormodifications ref: sthe Eeircuit without departing :from -'the"'-.furrdame1ital underlying principles.' Thus, the resonant: t'eircuit 3- exclusive of e-resonant -circuitfi, may rbe melted im in combination with the voltage source is! topro- .duce the imeter readings, or the :cable andi'prhbe might be included fin a voltage source of mid-- j ustable frequency type in which tease the-trashnant circuits would both 'be adjusted'itoifixell frequencies- :Fundamentally, it ?is the'irelative shifting of the frequency 'of'ithe woltagezsnurce with;=respect-to the *re'sonantrcircuits iinzresponse to a changing -condit-ionwhich vzunderliesfilthe present= invention, though :the pref-erredtembodk ment described "has its advantages.

Accordingly, while :I :have dis'closedcaml described l-such preferred embodiment intconsider ab1e- =detail, I do not-desire-to bedimite'd protection to such details, except "as'zmazv "be necessitatedby the appendeduclaims.

Lclaim:

all indicating system :for indicating change in "condition of: apparatus,- comprising :a source .of voltage at a predetermineddrequency, a resonant-circuit :ceupl'ed to-=said source ras 2a load and tuned to a frequency rto 'onersidefo'f the .frequencyofsaid '--source,-.'a 'second resonant :circuit 'coupled to:said source -a'sr'a .rload and itunable through 9; frequency =onithe -=other-:side of zthie frequency of said seurce saidwlatter nesonant circuit including'a "cable "and 'a variable capacity determinable iby such-change :in'rcondition; findicating means-iresponsive toichanges'imthwoverall load of said resonant icircuits "as caused "by such fchange in condition, 'said indicatingsmeans including a meter connected across said-aresnnant circuits in oppositionyand'liaving a'zeifofl in'dication-thereon, a bias voltage source in-series with-said "meter and of: a'value 'to bias the indicating'element of" saidzmeter toa'zposition slightly short of said zero indication; 'saidf resonant seincuitsbeing -in substantialithrough not'iaccurate balance," the extent 70f unbalance b'ein'g. :sufiicient to bring I said indicating element *to- "said fzem indication.

"2. "In *an indicating 'system'ior m'dicating a change in 'a variable capacity enquiring :a

*cable for connection "to-"said" variable :capacity, said cable and "variable capacity constituting an external circuit, indicating nneans -f-responsive it!) a changerinsaid"variable"capacity for indicating such change, said indicatingtmeansincludinga meter having "-a'sc'ale thereon; and means inisaid system "responsive to-mbreak =in said external circuit for'causing-said "meter to read above maximum-operating'range.

*3. In an'indicatingsystem for zindica-ting :za change in a variable capacity andiirequiring as. .cable for connection to said variable --:oapacity, said cable --and wariable capacity constituting-ran external circuit, indicatingimeanszresponsineito a change H-in said variable capacity for indicating Name Date Fitzgerald Mar. 15, 1932 Bazzoni Aug. 1, 1939 Schuck May 14, 1940 Foster Dec. 23, 1941 Freystedt Nov. 3, 1942 Ostermann et a1. Aug. 1, 1944 Reid et a1 Aug. 29, 1944 Baker et a1 Apr. 24, 1945 Coroniti et a1. May 1, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Austria Mar. 11, 1940 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1938 

